Article type
Abstract
Background
Currently, there is no established primary prevention strategy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Modifiable healthy lifestyle behaviors may also protect against the occurrence of IBS. However, their combined association with the incidence of IBS is currently unknown.
Objectives
To evaluate the association of healthy lifestyle behaviors with the incidence of IBS.
Methods
This was a population-based prospective cohort study using data from the UK Biobank. Overall, 64,268 participants aged 37 to 73 years who had no IBS diagnosis at baseline were enrolled between 2006 and 2010 and followed up to 2022. The 5 healthy lifestyle behaviors studied were never smoking, optimal sleep, high level of vigorous physical activity, high dietary quality, and moderate alcohol intake. The outcome was the incidence of IBS.
Results
During a mean follow-up of 12.6 years, 961 (1.5%) incident IBS cases were recorded. Among the 64,268 participants (mean age 55.9 years, 55.0% female), 7604 (11.8%) reported none of the 5 healthy lifestyle behaviors, 20,662 (32.1%) reported 1 behavior, 21,901 (34.1%) reported 2 behaviors, and 14,101 (21.9%) reported 3 to 5 behaviors at baseline. The multivariable adjusted hazard ratios associated with having 1, 2, and 3 to 5 behaviors for IBS incidence were 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.96), 0.64 (0.53-0.78), and 0.58 (0.46-0.72), respectively (P for trend < 0.001). Never smoking (0.86, 0.76-0.98, P = 0.02), high level of vigorous physical activity (0.83, 0.73-0.95, P = 0.006), and optimal sleep (0.73, 0.60-0.88, P = 0.001) demonstrated significant independent inverse associations with IBS incidence. No significant interactions were observed between these associations and age, sex, employment status, geographic location, gastrointestinal infection, endometriosis, family history of IBS, or lifestyle behaviors.
Conclusions
Adhering to a higher number of healthy lifestyle behaviors is significantly associated with a lower IBS incidence in the general population. Our findings suggest the potential of lifestyle modifications as a primary prevention strategy for IBS.
Currently, there is no established primary prevention strategy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Modifiable healthy lifestyle behaviors may also protect against the occurrence of IBS. However, their combined association with the incidence of IBS is currently unknown.
Objectives
To evaluate the association of healthy lifestyle behaviors with the incidence of IBS.
Methods
This was a population-based prospective cohort study using data from the UK Biobank. Overall, 64,268 participants aged 37 to 73 years who had no IBS diagnosis at baseline were enrolled between 2006 and 2010 and followed up to 2022. The 5 healthy lifestyle behaviors studied were never smoking, optimal sleep, high level of vigorous physical activity, high dietary quality, and moderate alcohol intake. The outcome was the incidence of IBS.
Results
During a mean follow-up of 12.6 years, 961 (1.5%) incident IBS cases were recorded. Among the 64,268 participants (mean age 55.9 years, 55.0% female), 7604 (11.8%) reported none of the 5 healthy lifestyle behaviors, 20,662 (32.1%) reported 1 behavior, 21,901 (34.1%) reported 2 behaviors, and 14,101 (21.9%) reported 3 to 5 behaviors at baseline. The multivariable adjusted hazard ratios associated with having 1, 2, and 3 to 5 behaviors for IBS incidence were 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.96), 0.64 (0.53-0.78), and 0.58 (0.46-0.72), respectively (P for trend < 0.001). Never smoking (0.86, 0.76-0.98, P = 0.02), high level of vigorous physical activity (0.83, 0.73-0.95, P = 0.006), and optimal sleep (0.73, 0.60-0.88, P = 0.001) demonstrated significant independent inverse associations with IBS incidence. No significant interactions were observed between these associations and age, sex, employment status, geographic location, gastrointestinal infection, endometriosis, family history of IBS, or lifestyle behaviors.
Conclusions
Adhering to a higher number of healthy lifestyle behaviors is significantly associated with a lower IBS incidence in the general population. Our findings suggest the potential of lifestyle modifications as a primary prevention strategy for IBS.